By Joe Rogalsky,
Delaware State News
DOVER - Most state workers will see an extra $2,250 in their paychecks for the coming budget year under a salary package the legislature's budget writing committee approved Monday.
"That's a big increase," said Michael A. Begatto, who represents about 6,000 government workers through the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
"The people on the low end will be moving up higher and getting bigger increases and getting to a decent salary."
The fiscal 2007 pay package, which takes effect July 1 and cost $64.4 million, is significantly higher than Gov. Ruth Ann Minner proposed in January.
The governor's $15 million plan would have awarded raises of $500 or 1 percent, whichever was higher.
At the time she released the proposal, she said using extra revenue to increase the raises would be her first priority if revenue estimates climbed.
Members of the legislative Joint Finance Committee have about $235 million more to allocate than Gov. Minner did in January, thanks to increasing revenue estimates from the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council.
Two hours before the JFC decided on the pay raises, DEFAC increased its projections by $112 million, about $22 million of which is already earmarked for a loan to the Christina School District and to fund an energy conservation program.
Under the increase approved Monday, which the full legislature must vote on next month as part of the annual budget bill, employees will receive a $1,250 increase or 2 percent, whichever is higher.
Workers earning less than $62,500 will receive the $1,250, according to the Office of Management and Budget.
The increases also apply to Plan B employees at Delaware Technical & Community College, which are workers that perform jobs similar to state employees, such as secretaries.
Then, workers employed as of Jan. 1 will receive another $1,000 to move them up in their salary range. Workers near the top of their salary level will get $500 or the amount needed to put them at the top of their pay range, whichever is higher.
Lawmakers have long been concerned that when they grant across-the-board increases, such as the $1,250 or 2 percent, workers get paid more but are still in the same position on the salary ladder, which also increases.
This causes problems because long-time workers usually end up in the same spot of the salary scale as new workers.
In recent years the JFC has implemented the across-the-board increases that not only increase the salary scales but also gives raises to move the employees higher in their pay scale.
"Doing a straight salary increase as opposed to a straight percentage increase always favors the lower end," said Sen. Nancy W. Cook, D-Kenton, a committee co-chair.
"That's why we decided state employees should get $1,250 or 2 percent, whichever is higher."
Public school teachers and administrators will see a 4-percent raise, plus scheduled increases based on experience and education, as will similar employees at DelTech.
Paraprofessional education employees, such as teacher's aides will receive a $900 raise, while $700 will go to secretaries, custodians and food service personnel.
"It is all very good," said Howard Weinberg, executive director of the Delaware State Education Association, the teachers' union.
"We are glad they recognized our members are doing a good job."
Employees at Delaware State University and the University of Delaware will receive 2-percent raises under the JFC's package.
Going up
Highlights of a $64.4 million pay increase package the legislative Joint Finance Committee approved Monday:
-- State merit-system employees and Plan D workers at Delaware Technical & Community College will receive a $1,250 increase or 2 percent, whichever is higher.
-- Workers employed as of Jan. 1 will receive another $1,000 (workers near the top of their salary level will get $500 or the amount needed to put them at the top of their pay range, whichever is higher).
-- Public school teachers and administrators, plus Plan A and Plan D DelTech workers will see a 4-percent raise, plus scheduled increases based on experience and education.
-- Paraprofessional education employees, will receive a $900 raise. Public school secretaries, custodians and food service personnel will see a $700 hike.
-- Employees at Delaware State University and the University of Delaware will receive 2-percent raises under the JFC's package.
Staff writer Joe Rogalsky can be reached at 741-8226 or jrogalsky@newszap.com
